THE CHURCH ETERNAL

Newsletter 262  September 25, 2011

Ephesians 3:14-21 King James Version

The church is not a building, whether simple of costly, it is only a building. Even the temple built in Jerusalem in honor of God and spoken of as His home was only a building and a rather short lived one at that, considering how long it was under construction. It was totally destroyed in 70 a.d. All that remains today is the wailing wall, really a retaining wall for the temple area.

The church is composed of those believers who have been obedient to the command to: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38) We know this because for the first time the church is spoken of as being present in (Acts 2:47) where we read: “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Other versions say, “were being saved.” Symbolically, Peter used the key, when he first preached, at Pentecost, how to become a Christian. No man adds anyone to the church. Our, all knowing, almighty Lord does that, It is His church. Through Christ, and His church, we come to the Father.

GOD THE FATHER

14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

ALL CHRISTIANS BEAR THE SON’S NAME

How very right it is that we bear he name “Christian”, meaning belonging to Christ. Add to that to be a part of the “whole family”, both here and in Heaven is an infinitely greater blessing. We are not there as servants, that is the work of the angels, we are there as adopted children, who bear the same name and have the same rights as our brother by adoption, Christ Jesus.

15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

STRENGTHENED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

A truly Christian family is a wonderful thing, and to make certain that we remain that way, God sent us a blessing in the gift of the Holy Ghost.

16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

THROUGH WHOM WE ARE STRENGTHENED

If the Holy Ghost in our hearts with Jesus as well, through faith we are rooted and well grounded for ever. We are enfolded in His love for us and we for one another. That includes all saints, Christians world-wide, “breadth, length, depth, and height.” As Jonah was in the belly of the great fish, and the astronauts have been in outer space, God is there, and His love is there for and with us.

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

HIS LOVE CAN NOT BE MEASURED

There is no way that we can understand that great love. It is beyond our ability, but it is there. It encompasses far beyond our human limitations, but one day we will know. Sometime we say, “I want to ask this when I get to heaven.” I think we will know without asking.

19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

GLORY TO HIS PEOPLE, THE CHURCH, ETERNAL

21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
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READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2011
SEPTEMBER

25th. Sunday – Isaiah 63, 64, Ephesians 3, Proverbs 23:19-27
26th. Monday – Isaiah 65, 66, Ephesians 4:1-16, Psalm 112
27th. Tuesday – Micah 1, 2, Ephesians 4:17-32, Psalm 113
28th. Wednesday - Micah 3, 4, 5, Ephesians 5:1-16 , Psalm 114
29th. Thursday - Micah 6, 7, Ephesians 5:17-33, Proverbs 23:28-35
30th. Friday – Nahum 1, 2, 3, Ephesians 6, Psalm 115:1-9

OCTOBER

1st. Saturday - Jeremiah 1, 2, Philippians 1:1-14, Psalm 115:10-18 __________

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THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE

“And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.” Ephesians 1:22-23
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http://www.amazon.com/P-J-Mills/e/B004KAS792/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
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OOPS!

The pastor received the following thank you note from a newlywed in his congregation. “Dear pastor: I want to thank you for performing our marriage ceremony. It was beautiful the way you brought my happiness to a conclusion.”
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A pastor was called to a local nursing home to perform a wedding. An anxious old man met him at the door. The pastor sat down to counsel the old man and asked several questions. “Do you love her?”
The old man replied, “Nope.”
Is she a good Christian woman?”
“I don’t know for sure.” the old man answered.
“Does she have lots of money?” asked the pastor.
“I doubt it.”
“Then why are you marrying her?” The preacher asked.
“Cause she can drive at night.” The old man said.